Ann the Man Coulter Endorses Hillary over McCain

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by skcin

I am paying attention, I just usually don't bother clicking your links.

You are forthwith shunned

[skcin]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

You are forthwith shunned

Just read it. I'm not making the connection between lobbyists & taking a pic with a gay pioneer. Help me, old & wise one.

BTW - interesting that the HRC (Human Rights Campaign) rates Obama & Hillary the same on gay rights despite his refusal to take a pic with someone.

[strandinthewind]

Clinton says lobbyists run Obama South Carolina campaign

By: Associated Press -

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -- Hillary Rodham Clinton says lobbyists are leading Democratic presidential rival Barack Obama's South Carolina campaign.

At a debate Monday, Clinton tried to blunt John Edwards' criticism about lobbyists influencing presidential politics. "But, you know, Barack has a lot of lobbyists who are leading his campaign here in South Carolina," Clinton said.

THE SPIN:

Influence-peddling and lobbying money are recurring themes in the run-up to Saturday's Democrat primary in the state. Edwards is running South Carolina ads noting that Clinton and Obama have taken lobbyist money, while he does not.

THE FACTS:

Obama's campaign announced this month that former South Carolina Gov. Jim Hodges had become a national co-chairman. Hodges' lobbying and consulting is registered to lobby for Hillenbrand Partners, a Chicago-based company that does business with the Federal Home Loan Bank in Atlanta.

Two other South Carolina leaders in Obama's campaign have lobbied in South Carolina. Senior adviser Rick Wade said he last lobbied in 1996. Anton Gunn, Obama's state political director, was a registered lobbyist between 2001 and 2004, according to state Ethics Commission records.

Obama adviser Steve Hildebrand said the campaign has no problem with lobbyists volunteering to work, but no federal lobbyists are on the campaign's payroll and they cannot donate money or collect it from others. "We're not going to prevent people from being volunteers on this campaign," he said. For instance, Hildebrand said he gave up federal lobbying work for an environmental group as a condition of taking his paid staff position.

When he was an Illinois state senator, about 40 percent of Obama's campaign cash came from political action committees, corporations and unions. He has since sworn off taking money from Washington lobbyists and PACs. "We've never walked away from that. He's said it's time to change that," Hildebrand said.
_____________________________________________

So, let's see, people who get paid millions a year plus huge perks from politicians are volunteering to work on the campain of someone who is not going to do them favors -- hmmmmm there's a bridge in Brooklyn that's for sale

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by skcin

Just read it. I'm not making the connection between lobbyists & taking a pic with a gay pioneer. Help me, old & wise one.

BTW - interesting that the HRC (Human Rights Campaign) rates Obama & Hillary the same on gay rights despite his refusal to take a pic with someone.

I think we are talking about two different things. I thought we were talking about the lobbyists "volunteering" on Obama's campaign, allegedly with no hope of political favor. He is doing that now.

As for the photo op - Obama is no fool - he is playing the gays and they are lapping it up - much like they did when Bill Clinton did just about the same thind in 1992 - I was in the room when he said he would abolish the ban on gays in the military.

[strandinthewind]

Hillary speaks!

As I have traveled around the country these past twelve months, what I sensed in my heart has been confirmed – America is embracing its LGBT sons and daughters with an acceptance and understanding as never before. On the campaign trail, a father of a gay son will ask about ending Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. A woman will ask why she can be discriminated against just because of who she is. Sometimes they wait furtively for the crowd to thin and then whisper their confidences in a soft voice and sometimes they stand up proudly at town meetings and want me to share my views on how I will help lead the change to assure that this country fulfills its promise to everyone.

Let me tell you what I have been telling voters across America. I am fully committed to the fair and equal treatment of LGBT Americans. For seven long years, the Bush Administration has tried to divide us - only seeing people who matter to them. It's been a government of the few, by the few, and for the few. And no community has been more invisible to this administration than the LGBT community.

I will change that. The best evidence of what I will do as President is what I have already done.

* I am proud of my record as First Lady, as a U.S. Senator and as a candidate for President in working toward the fair and equal treatment of LGBT Americans.
* I am proud that as Chair of the Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee in 2006, I worked closely with LBGT community to develop a smart strategy that defeated the Federal Marriage Amendment. I am proud of fighting the FMA as divisive wedge politics at its worst.
* I am proud to be a co-sponsor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, and the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligation Act which would grant the same benefits (including health insurance) to domestic partners of federal employees that are currently offered to employees’ legal spouses.
* I am proud to have authored the Early Treatment for HIV Act, which expands access to vital treatment options for low-income individuals living with HIV, and fought to fully fund the Ryan White CARE Act.
* I am proud that I hired a National Director of LGBT Outreach within a month of announcing my candidacy for President and to have openly gay and lesbian staffers serving at all levels of my campaign.
* I am proud to have a National LGBT Steering Committee of over 130 that includes openly LGBT elected officials, Board members and opinion leaders on issues ranging from transgender rights, to HIV/AIDS, to “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”.
* I am proud to have marched in Gay Pride parades as both First Lady and as Senator and to have spoken in front of so many LGBT audiences ranging from the Human Rights Campaign, Empire State Pride Agenda, the Hetrick Martin Institute, PFLAG (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), GMHC (Gay Men’s Health Crisis), and the American Foundation for AIDS Research.
* I am proud to have fought Republican efforts to demonize and marginalize the LGBT community, and I will continue to do that as President.

We have so much work to do. When I am President, we will work together to make sure that all Americans in committed relationships have equal benefits and that nothing stands in the way of loving couples who want to adopt children in need. We're going to expand our federal hate crimes legislation and pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and assure that they are both fully inclusive of all people. And finally, we will put an end to the failed policy of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Courage, honor, patriotism and sacrifice – the traits that define our men and women in uniform – have nothing to do with sexual orientation.

My father was a conservative Republican, who held very traditional views for much of his life. Yet in his last years, it was a gay couple who lived next door who provided much of the compassion and comfort he and my mother needed as he grew ill. And it was that same neighbor who held his hand as he died. If my father can move, America can move.

To each and every LGBT American, I say this. You have done so much to help this country understand your lives by simply being open and honest about who you are and living your lives with dignity. Thank you for your courage. It is time that we recognize your hard work. I know that this country is ready for changes in the law that reflect the evolution in our hearts.

America deserves a President who appeals to the best in each of us, not the worst; a President who values and respects all Americans and treats all Americans equally no matter who they are or who they love. I want to be that President. I want to be your President.

[skcin]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

I think we are talking about two different things. I thought we were talking about the lobbyists "volunteering" on Obama's campaign, allegedly with no hope of political favor. He is doing that now.

As for the photo op - Obama is no fool - he is playing the gays and they are lapping it up - much like they did when Bill Clinton did just about the same thind in 1992 - I was in the room when he said he would abolish the ban on gays in the military.

How is he "playing the gays" by NOT having his pic taken with Newsom in 2003? I was responding to Vermicious' post. I think we're still talking about 2 different things.

And I think both dem candidates are far more pro-gay than the republicans (duh), but are any of you upset that both Hillary & Obama support civil unions, but not "gay marriage?" Just curious.

[skcin]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

Clinton says lobbyists run Obama South Carolina campaign

By: Associated Press -

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -- Hillary Rodham Clinton says lobbyists are leading Democratic presidential rival Barack Obama's South Carolina campaign.

At a debate Monday, Clinton tried to blunt John Edwards' criticism about lobbyists influencing presidential politics. "But, you know, Barack has a lot of lobbyists who are leading his campaign here in South Carolina," Clinton said.

THE SPIN:

Influence-peddling and lobbying money are recurring themes in the run-up to Saturday's Democrat primary in the state. Edwards is running South Carolina ads noting that Clinton and Obama have taken lobbyist money, while he does not.

THE FACTS:

Obama's campaign announced this month that former South Carolina Gov. Jim Hodges had become a national co-chairman. Hodges' lobbying and consulting is registered to lobby for Hillenbrand Partners, a Chicago-based company that does business with the Federal Home Loan Bank in Atlanta.

Two other South Carolina leaders in Obama's campaign have lobbied in South Carolina. Senior adviser Rick Wade said he last lobbied in 1996. Anton Gunn, Obama's state political director, was a registered lobbyist between 2001 and 2004, according to state Ethics Commission records.

Obama adviser Steve Hildebrand said the campaign has no problem with lobbyists volunteering to work, but no federal lobbyists are on the campaign's payroll and they cannot donate money or collect it from others. "We're not going to prevent people from being volunteers on this campaign," he said. For instance, Hildebrand said he gave up federal lobbying work for an environmental group as a condition of taking his paid staff position.

When he was an Illinois state senator, about 40 percent of Obama's campaign cash came from political action committees, corporations and unions. He has since sworn off taking money from Washington lobbyists and PACs. "We've never walked away from that. He's said it's time to change that," Hildebrand said.
_____________________________________________

So, let's see, people who get paid millions a year plus huge perks from politicians are volunteering to work on the campain of someone who is not going to do them favors -- hmmmmm there's a bridge in Brooklyn that's for sale

Quoted from the article you linked to:

To be fair, Obama already addressed this on "Meet the Press":

MR. RUSSERT: ..."I will not allow a lobbyist to work in my White House"...

SEN. OBAMA: Right.

MR. RUSSERT: ...and now you've changed on that.

SEN. OBAMA: No, I...

MR. RUSSERT: You said they can work.

SEN. OBAMA: I haven't changed. Look, the terminology may have changed, the, the basic concept remains the same. I am going to break the revolving door that has become so commonplace in this administration and in some previous administrations. If you want to work in my White House, you will not be able to regulate former employers. And if you leave my White House, you will not be able to lobby agencies that you used to work for on behalf of folks that were regulated. That is the revolving door that has to be broken to give the American people confidence in, in their government.

MR. RUSSERT: So if a lobbyist agreed to those terms, they could work in the White House?

SEN. OBAMA: Look, there are people who may have lobbied 10 years ago, 15 years ago. They may be able to render excellent service to the American people as long as they're clear that we want people of integrity and we want this link between you cashing in and you serving in government broken.


I don't doubt that ALL of them have some lobbyists donating/running/assisting their campaign. Obama obviously shouldn't have made such a blanket statement - I don't think he meant to lie outright, but he obviously keeps needing to clarify/correct himself, so he shouldn't have said anything. No one is freaking out that the other candidates have lobbyists involved in their campaign - not because this isn't the case, but because they never addressed it!

Was it Barrack or Hillary who said something to the effect of "nobody's hand are completely clean, it's impossible" in one of the debates when this issue was brought up. That's sad, but true. I think it's up to them how much influence they allow people to have on them. I know what you're saying, Strand, I really do. But that doesn't mean that Barack (or Hillary or anyone else) have to continue the status quo. I don't think ALL politicians are crooked, but I'm not fooling myself by thinking any one of them is completely innocent. Nobody's pulling the wool over my eyes & I'm not naive. I can only HOPE that he's being honest when he says what he does in the above quote, and that he actually will make an effort to not do favors for people. What else can you do?

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by skcin

Quoted from the article you linked to:

To be fair, Obama already addressed this on "Meet the Press":

MR. RUSSERT: ..."I will not allow a lobbyist to work in my White House"...

SEN. OBAMA: Right.

MR. RUSSERT: ...and now you've changed on that.

SEN. OBAMA: No, I...

MR. RUSSERT: You said they can work.

SEN. OBAMA: I haven't changed. Look, the terminology may have changed, the, the basic concept remains the same. I am going to break the revolving door that has become so commonplace in this administration and in some previous administrations. If you want to work in my White House, you will not be able to regulate former employers. And if you leave my White House, you will not be able to lobby agencies that you used to work for on behalf of folks that were regulated. That is the revolving door that has to be broken to give the American people confidence in, in their government.

MR. RUSSERT: So if a lobbyist agreed to those terms, they could work in the White House?

SEN. OBAMA: Look, there are people who may have lobbied 10 years ago, 15 years ago. They may be able to render excellent service to the American people as long as they're clear that we want people of integrity and we want this link between you cashing in and you serving in government broken.


I don't doubt that ALL of them have some lobbyists donating/running/assisting their campaign. Obama obviously shouldn't have made such a blanket statement - I don't think he meant to lie outright, but he obviously keeps needing to clarify/correct himself, so he shouldn't have said anything. No one is freaking out that the other candidates have lobbyists involved in their campaign - not because this isn't the case, but because they never addressed it!

Was it Barrack or Hillary who said something to the effect of "nobody's hand are completely clean, it's impossible" in one of the debates when this issue was brought up. That's sad, but true. I think it's up to them how much influence they allow people to have on them. I know what you're saying, Strand, I really do. But that doesn't mean that Barack (or Hillary or anyone else) have to continue the status quo. I don't think ALL politicians are crooked, but I'm not fooling myself by thinking any one of them is completely innocent. Nobody's pulling the wool over my eyes & I'm not naive. I can only HOPE that he's being honest when he says what he does in the above quote, and that he actually will make an effort to not do favors for people. What else can you do?

^Word. I cast my vote for him today in the primary. I think having the intention to create an office where individuals are not directly profiting from policy is a great start. It seems like common sense to me. That's not the type of sense the current administration has used though. Nuts.

[DrummerDeanna]

Originally Posted by skcin

And I think both dem candidates are far more pro-gay than the republicans (duh), but are any of you upset that both Hillary & Obama support civil unions, but not "gay marriage?" Just curious.

yes! I am upset by that. But at this point it's almost a let's take what we can get.

And for the record - the reference to Ann Coulter as a trans woman in this thread is totally offensive. (offensive to trans people - I don't care about Ann Coulter). No, I'm not kidding...just wanted to throw that out there

[LindseyChick]

What would that mean, to elect a Muslim as president? Would that mean the Jihad was off? The troops could come home? It would be interesting. Let's, instead, vote a woman in.. Come on, guys... you know the women in your life have ruled. Did mom not wake you up every morning, put breakfast on the table, pack your lunch and send you off to school? So why not let a woman run the country? What do you have to lose? I can't believe that Hillary's White House would be much different than Bill's.. and during Bill's White House rule, he erased the national deficit to zero, we had not been involved in a war in 8 years and gas was under one dollar a gallon. I voted for Hillary today. I hope you do, too.

[DrummerDeanna]

Originally Posted by LindseyChick

What would that mean, to elect a Muslim as president? Would that mean the Jihad was off? The troops could come home? It would be interesting. Let's, instead, vote a woman in.. Come on, guys... you know the women in your life have ruled. Did mom not wake you up every morning, put breakfast on the table, pack your lunch and send you off to school? So why not let a woman run the country? What do you have to lose? I can't believe that Hillary's White House would be much different than Bill's.. and during Bill's White House rule, he erased the national deficit to zero, we had not been involved in a war in 8 years and gas was under one dollar a gallon. I voted for Hillary today. I hope you do, too.

Um Barack Obama is not Muslim.

And voting for someone simply based on their gender is ludicrous, in my opinion! It's not only ludicrous it's insulting.

Hillary is such a divisive figure in this country. She has zero crossover appeal and I've heard over and over and over in covering politics independents say if Obama gets the nom they'll vote for him - but there's no way they'd vote for Hillary. That worries me.

Plus...again....

Bush...Clinton...Clinton...Bush...Bush...and ANOTHER term (or two) of Clinton!?! No thank you! We need a change.

[vivfox]

Originally Posted by LindseyChick

Bill Clinton) he erased the national deficit to zero

I don't think this is true.

[carrie721]

Originally Posted by LindseyChick

She has appeal that you'll never be aware of. Stability, common sense, as I'd said, hoping she will bring back the stability her husband brought to this country. The National Deficit was zereo. How many kids do you have of draft age? Let me take a guess and say NONE. I am scared to death of the draft. Again, is Jihad off? You didn't address that. And nom...did you mean Nam? If it's Obama vs. McCain, I'd cross party lines and vote McCain..so the Republicans would win. Or was it the "nom"....well... the best qualified candidate doesn't always win...and if my kid isn't going off to war....why should I care?

this makes no sense.

[DrummerDeanna]

Originally Posted by LindseyChick

She has appeal that you'll never be aware of. Stability, common sense, as I'd said, hoping she will bring back the stability her husband brought to this country. The National Deficit was zereo. How many kids do you have of draft age? Let me take a guess and say NONE. I am scared to death of the draft. Again, is Jihad off? You didn't address that. And nom...did you mean Nam? If it's Obama vs. McCain, I'd cross party lines and vote McCain..so the Republicans would win. Or was it the "nom"....well... the best qualified candidate doesn't always win...and if my kid isn't going off to war....why should I care?

Um - I covered Hillary Clinton in New York for two years. I work in the news industry and read/watch/listen to this stuff every single day. I know of her appeal - I just don't see it. And I've met her and talked to her - so I'd venture to say it's actually you who may not be aware of some things.

Again, Barack Obama is not Muslim - so I'm not sure what your reference to Jihad means. You ARE aware that Hillary voted FOR the war? Barack Obama was against it from the start. I have no kids - but I live in this country and therefore am affected by this just as much as anyone - so I don't know what that has to do with anything.

But hey - to each their own - I just don't think Hillary can win a presidential election. That's just my opinion.

In the end - that's the beauty of the process - we all support who we support - and that support is generally based on a number of different factors.

[LindseyChick]

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

Um - I covered Hillary Clinton in New York for two years. I work in the news industry and read/watch/listen to this stuff every single day. I know of her appeal - I just don't see it. And I've met her and talked to her - so I'd venture to say it's actually you who may not be aware of some things.

Again, Barack Obama is not Muslim - so I'm not sure what your reference to Jihad means. You ARE aware that Hillary voted FOR the war? Barack Obama was against it from the start. I have no kids - but I live in this country and therefore am affected by this just as much as anyone - so I don't know what that has to do with anything.

But hey - to each their own - I just don't think Hillary can win a presidential election. That's just my opinion.

In the end - that's the beauty of the process - we all support who we support - and that support is generally based on a number of different factors.

So you get my passion regarding this. She is my choice. David Crosby once said "what's more personal than your political beliefs?" I hope she wins.